Kabwe Drilling (“KBDD05”) deep hole confirms ore body open at depth
Shuka Minerals PLC (AIM/AltX: SKA) said its fifth diamond drill hole at the Kabwe Zinc Mine in Zambia has confirmed that the No. 2 ore body remains open at depth.
The African-focused mine operator and developer said hole KBDD05 was drilled as a deep hole to test the western limb of the projected ore body at a depth of around 320 to 350 metres.
The hole encountered a mining cavity between 324.90 metres and 327.75 metres downhole, possibly linked to historic underground workings. Despite deviation caused by a combination of karst cavities and the mining void, drilling continued to a final depth of 419 metres.
Shuka said downhole gyroscope survey data will help it map the western side of the ore body and identify the location of further underground workings in a 3D model. The data will also support planning for future deeper holes.
KBDD05 returned 38.90% zinc over 3.50 metres from 338.00 metres to 341.50 metres downhole. The figure is based on an arithmetic average of 10 individual portable XRF readings across the defined zone. Individual readings over the interval ranged from 6.70% to 68.6% zinc.
The company also reported one peak lead reading of 17.5%, which it said may indicate increased lead mineralisation with depth. A lower ironstone band averaged 2.63% zinc over 2.40 metres from 373.60 metres to 376.00 metres.
Shuka said the results show mineralisation continuing at depth while also helping test the western limits of the known ore body. The company said the hole will assist with planning further deep drilling to the east of and below the latest intersections.
The readings were taken using a calibrated XRF machine and will be verified through JORC and NI 43-101 laboratory analysis and testing.
Shuka said the intersection supports its 2026 exploration objective of increasing the existing resource by 50%, subject to the results of the drilling programme.
The company has now started a sixth hole targeting a different, previously unexploited ore body in the Speaks area, around one kilometre from the Pit 2 area where work has focused to date. The sixth hole is expected to reach a depth of 250 to 300 metres.
Chief executive Richard Lloyd said the deep hole had delivered further high-grade zinc and lead mineralisation despite intersecting historic workings and cavities.
He said the result gives the company more information about the ore body and its behaviour at depth, adding that Shuka is now confident it can drill to depths of more than 700 metres to test the deepest reaches of the previously developed ore body.
Lloyd said the company had achieved a 100% hit rate at the No. 2 ore body so far and had now moved the rig around one kilometre to the north-east to begin step-out drilling at the Speaks and Mine Club areas.
